Charles of the Bronx declared absolute confidence in his knockout power to face Ilia Topuria No. UFC 317, an event scheduled for this Saturday (28). In an exclusive interview with the SUPER LUTAS channel on YouTube, the Brazilian anticipated an aggressive clash, comparing it to the collision of 'two trucks'. The fight is valid for the vacant lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg).
According to him, both athletes prioritize constant advancement in the octagon, which should result in explosive exchanges of blows for the title. Charles, however, highlights the quality on his feet as a possible advantage over the Georgian.
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“Man, he (Ilia Topuria) is a guy who walks forward, I also walk forward, so it's two trucks colliding, hitting each other. That's why I really believe in the firepower that I have in my hands. I'm a guy who hits really hard, he's a guy who hits really hard, so that's why I really believe in the firepower in my hands, I believe I can knock him out,” he said. Charles of the Bronx.
Regarding Topuria's change of weight class, Do Bronx was cautious. He recalled the transition from featherweight (up to 65,7 kg) to lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) that he made in the past and mentioned physical variations among athletes who move up a division. The former champion also considered whether the Georgian would already have a natural size for featherweight, a factor that could make it easier for him to adapt to lightweight.
“It’s really crazy, right? Each body is different. And I felt it a little bit, like this: the strength, the punch at the beginning. When I got to the hand-to-hand combat, the guy had much more strength than me when I hit. We don’t know if he was already a heavy guy for the category (featherweight). It all varies a lot from person to person,” he said about Topuria’s rise in weight.
Charles of the Bronx comments on Makhachev's category change
In parallel, Charles addressed the weight transition of Islam makhachev, current leader of the category. For him, the Russian's change is due to difficulties in cutting 70,3 kg, not due to competitive fear.
“I think Islam has really moved up a category, in the fact that he is no longer able to cut weight so well to 70kg. I was in the fight he fought (against Renato Moicano) and I ended up seeing it. I even told Diego (Lima): I think the weight cut was a bit painful, right? But that's what I think. That's why he's moving up a weight class. Not out of fear or anything, because he's a really tough guy, right?", he added about Makhachev.
Charles do Bronx achieves unprecedented lightweight feat at UFC 317
In the early hours of June 28th, Charles of the Bronx will have the chance to once again write his name in the UFC record book. If he wins, the former champion will become the first athlete in the history of the organization to regain the title in the category after losing it.
Since the creation of the lightweight belt in 2001, no fighter has managed to regain it after being stripped. Even legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov e B.J. Penn held the title until retirement or were unable to recover it. Charles of the Bronx, who already holds the record for most submissions in UFC history, is looking for another important feat in the organization.
To this day, only TJ Dillashaw, Amanda nunes, Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno, Carla esparza, Stipe Miocic, Rose namajunas, Dominick Cruz e Jon Jones achieved such a feat. None of them in the lightweight division.
UFC 317
O UFC 317 takes place at T-Mobile Arena, with the co-main event between Alexandre pantoja e Kai Kara France for the flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg).
The event also features the presence of other Brazilians such as Renato Moicano, Felipe Lima, Gregory Robocop, Viviane Araujo and Jonatha Diniz.
Read More about: Charles of the Bronx, Ilia Topuria, UFC, UFC 317
